Shrimp – Mantis (Peacock)

Peacock Mantis Shrimp Care Tips:

Minimum Tank Size:  5 Gallons

Max Size: Up to 40cm (15″)

Diet: Omnivore

Temperament: Aggressive

Lifespan: Up to 6 years

Scientific Name: Odontodactylus Scyllarus

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: No

The mantis shrimp is a large predatory species not commonly seen in the hobby. Its scientific name is Odontodactylus Scyllarus, but it is referred to by its common name, the peacock mantis shrimp. Mantis shrimp come from the Odontodactylidae family. Their maximum size is 15” but that size is not often seen in the hobby, 3-5” is a more common size. Mantis shrimp can live up to 6 years. Mantis shrimp are omnivores that will scavenge food from the tank. They are considered aggressive because of their predatory nature, they love to fight their prey and will kill and eat any other invertebrates or small fish that it can grab. This means you should have a species-specific tank for this shrimp. Their minimum tank size is 20 gallons. Mantis shrimp are coral safe but are not invertebrate safe. Mantis shrimp are nocturnal and will be seen hiding in cracks or caves in the rocks during the day. Males are blue-ish green, females are red.